Australia defends US security deal as talks open

Australia’s foreign minister Julie Bishop defended Tuesday a deal to deploy 2,500 US Marines in the country, denying it was aimed at curbing a rising China with tensions growing in the region. Beijing bristled when the deal, to be signed off at annual security talks, was announced as part of the US ‘pivot’ to Asia in 2011. But Bishop, who is hosting US Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in Sydney, said the rotation of Marines into the northern city of Darwin was the ‘natural evolution’ of their alliance. ‘It's aimed at supporting the long-term peace, stability and prosperity of our region, the Indian Ocean-Asia Pacific,’ she said ahead of the Australia -US Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN). The foreign minister denied the agreement was aimed at hindering China, with Beijing embroiled in maritime disputes with several of its neighbours. ‘That's not what it is directed to do at all. It's about working closely with the United States to ensure that we can work on regional peace and security,’ she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ‘The United States is rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific so it's ways we can work together to support economic development as well as security and peace,' according to AFP.